Austin Walthall

You Can Help Make a Difference

The amount of love that one individual can provide is not quantifiable. It is hard for me to imagine the capacity of love that resides within Emily.

She is the most selfless individual I have met. She and I were evaluated at UAB for a transplant, and it turns out she is as close to a perfect match for me as anyone could have hoped for. We are truly taking the “of one body and one mind” to a whole new level. The biggest concern we have with proceeding with a transplant is the cost. Emily is currently job hunting and I am in school so, needless to say, we are not rolling in it, unless of course the “it” is student loan debt.

To outline the transplant process, Emily and I will be admitted to the hospital and they will remove her kidney and then place it in me in back to back surgeries. After the surgery, Emily will spend 1-2 nights in the hospital and then around a week in a local hotel for post operation evaluation. I will spend around a week in the hospital and then around two weeks in a local hotel in the Birmingham area for evaluation to ensure the kidney takes and is not being rejected by my body. I will be required to take multiple immunosuppressant medications. These medications will be life long, which can add up to obscene amounts of money very quickly. We have very good insurance, but the out of pocket expenses will still grow exponentially. We would love any sort of love, prayers, and support that you can provide for us to help us to reach our goal. If you have any questions, please get in contact with one of us or our family. We love each and everyone of you and we would not be mentally or physically stable without the love and support that you have shown us along the way. This journey is still difficult for us, but we are strong in faith and love and we know God will help to pull us through. Please feel free to share this with anyone that you think would be willing to help us.

We chose to fund raise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility to the full extent allowed by law for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!